I joined this board along time ago (over a year maybe) when I was mazda searching. One of the smarter guys on here ( i think Icemark was his name) told me I should not get one as a first car so I followed his reccomendation and got An MX-6 GT (looking for speed)

My MX-6 GT's tranny crapped out on me. I'm now considering Purchase of an 87 Mazda RX-7 TII. Average TII life is around 100,000 miles I've read. The one I want to buy is rebuilt, ported/polished/etc. Guy said it'll prolly last 80k.

If these engines are so much more efficient since they have so many fewer moving parts what causes them to die so soon? Apex seals theoretically do the same job as Piston rings so whats the deal?

Besides perfect maintenance, regular redlining, and low boost what is a way I could maybe stretch the life span of this car? I need it to last through college. I'm bout to graduate highschool.

Thanks, Shannon.

 

buy turbo timer, never overboost it, get proper cooling, that should make it last a little longer

 

Dont abuse it, and give it plenty of TLC. She will last a lifetime.

Its is absolutely FACT - that 7's need more attention than other pist-on cars.

 

Thats exactly it. People just dont take good enough care of their cars. Plus 100k would last me quite a long time. I usually only put about 8 or 10k on my car a year.

 

Im sure you can get a decent tranny for that Mx6 A LOT cheaper than buying a TII. Im really glad your considering getting a TII but you have to keep a few things in mind. TII's are not good daily drivers, their Turbos they have like 19mpg, There extremly fun but their sports cars and are better for weekend driving. What i would recomend is A. Keep your mx6 fix it and and use it as your daily driver B. Get the TII anyway and use that for weekends.
If you need somthing relaible get an N/A. Check the average life expectancy of an N/A and youll find some have reached 260-300k miles! This is due to the fact that turbos kill rotaries. You want proof, look at the Renesis. Mazda's service records on the Rx7 turbos are huge, and this is one reason the New Rx8 is not a Forced induction vehicle.
Bottom line It all comes down to how the car is taken care of, That is what makes them last so know where that car came from and make sure you get a lot of info down before you buy it.
Goodluck

 

I'm pretty sure its already got a timer and if not I'll just use the one from my MX-6. I'll never go over 20 psi. (It's got the fuel and 2mm seals so 20 is a good round about right?)

I will definatley baby it maitenance-wise but of course I won't be able to help but drive it hard. How often should I redline? Everytime I drive (assuming its warmed up) and atleast a few times?

I'm not sure how many miles I'd drive a year but it'll be my daily driver for sure. Thanks for the help. Any more input on my apex seals question?

 

LMAO!
Dude, don't go anywhere near 20 psi on a TII unless you are modded to the MAX and are running race-gas...**** man, you'll blow your engine to kingdom come!!!

A stock S4 TII runs 5.5 psi, S5's run 7.5psi...

 

Rylassassin:

Um, heres the way I see it. I can spend $1000+ on a new tranny for my 6 or I can spend $1000 down with a loan for the TII.

I've done lots of research but I'll keep looking. I don't just need a dependable car I need something fast that will turn heads. I frequently do a lil underground streetracing.(well I was till my 6 broke!)

Heck If I can afford it I might keep both cars and drive the Rex till I fix the 6.

 

Well I am pretty sure even a TII will last four or five years. I have had my N/a for about 10 months and I have put about 12k miles on her and I push her hard often but I do not go past the redline at all except for one time I got too excited. I redline it in first and second gear almost every day. Redlining in third would be nice to do every day but you need a clear area for that I am lucky but I don't think you wand to be going 100 MPH or something like that in a city. Basicaly I think the rotary needs to be loved taken care of very well and driven under different conditions i.e. drive hard sometimes drive normal sometimes and baby it every now and then. What you will need to do is make sure the car is running well and has all the reliability things taken care of.

 

2mm seals, 255LPH fuel pump, 720cc injectors, S-AFC, lots lots more, fuel is not a problem. I'm just worried about the seals.

 

The stock turbo isnt going to go near 20psi, and a to4e at 20psi is going to need a lot more fuel than 720cc injectors can provide I think. Not to mention I would not use a safc making remotely that much power.

 

Oh and my N/a already has 150k miles on it on the original engine.

 

i know a guy who bought his t2 new, it has one ding and 197,000 miles on the original engine and turbo.
cars (especially newer ones) arent supposed to last more than about 6 years anyways

mike

 

How nice for you.

At 20psi:

Your stock turbo won't like it.
Your stock TMIC be useless.
Your wastegate won't take it.
Your 720's won't give you enough fuel.
Your S-AFC will not let you dial in the timing retard to stop your engine from detonating.

Your engine will last for not more than a few minutes.

And yes, you better worry about the seals.

 

For the record my engine lasted about 135k miles (off the top of my head conversion). And it only popped because it was leaned out. Turbos will last if you want them to.

 

Ack don't be so harsh you make me feel stupid.
I assumed the stock turbo would take it as I've heard it flows way better than the MX-6 stocker (which pretty much fizzles out at 18PSI). Plus the Turbo compressor housing is ported as well as the Wastegate.

Yeah I guess I kinda forgot about the ole top mount. It's wierd though I always assume those got pretty cold air with the hood scoop. Guess I'm wrong.

720's wont give enough fuel!? Damn! thats a lot of gasoline!

Anyone else like to make me feel stupid? I can really feel the love here...

 

nobody is trying to make you feel stupid it is just a fact, that to turbo a car with alot of boost requires ALOT of MODS and ALOT OF FUEL, also you want the car to last and 20PSI will NOT make it last, Nobody is trying to alienate you... just educate you. I will be running a
t04RR
Microtech LT-8
1680cc - secondaries
walbro 255l/h pump,
rising rate fuel regulator,
Street ported,
LARGE FMIC

I will never! exceed 15PSI, that is good for some serious power!
Good luck

 

Ok now that I know this I feel better. So maybe 10 PSI max? I dunno, I'll find out if I even get the car. Anyways getting off topic. I think I'll just keep boost as low as possible and keep it on a Hi/Lo switch. Street/race kinda thing.

Hmm, maybe I'll just stick with the mx-6. This is a stressful decision! Or maybe I'll just buy the guys MX-7.

 

If you absolutely want 20PSI of boost, then consider another car. An RX-7 2nd Gen (I don't know about the 3rd Gens) just can't take that much boost unless you're ready to pour a lot of money into your car. And by a lot, I don't only mean $5,000 or $6,000. I'm talking around $10,000 to $15,000, maybe more if you don't do a lot of the work yourself. And your car won't really be streetable because you'll be consuming way too much gasoline. The only "problem" with RX-7s is that you do have to maintain them regularly. That means checking fluids every week or two, or monthly if you don't drive very often or very hard.

If you get an S5, then you'll be running with higher compression, which would mean you'd really have to avoid running lean or you'd risk detonating, and that would cost you a rebuild, if not a new engine.

edit: 10PSI would be good actually and not that hard to achieve (I think). I hope that you do a lot of reading around though if you decide on an RX-7. I know some people who have bought one and given up on rotary engines all together after only a year. Try it and see how it works out for you.

 

10psi is more than doable and will result in ~220rwhp? A fairly quick car.

What jreynish is doing will probably be 360-400rwhp.

 

MX-7??? that is a first! LOL

Well if i were in your position i would do the following, buy the rx-7 take out a little extra to get the mx-6 fixed and then sell it take some of the money from the mx-6 invest in the following, FMIC, Boost controller, A/F Ratio guage. then the seven will be able to do some serious driving and still be reliable. That is what i would do. Hope this helps!

 

Lol yeah, he dropped an F2T into an rx7. very interesting swap. beautiful car with a dependable engine with lots of potential.

The car alraedy has a boost controller. I'll then plan on an EGT and a/f LED meter.

 

Lol yeah, he dropped an F2T into an rx7. very interesting swap. beautiful car with a dependable engine with lots of potential.

The car alraedy has a boost controller. I'll then plan on an EGT and a/f LED meter.

 

Bump. More opinions needed please.

My apex seals question has been unanswered. Thanks.